"We can all contribute to protect our planet and to protect our health."

"Climate change impacts on health both directly - for example through heat waves, floods and storms and other extreme weather events, but also indirectly, through effects on infectious disease, on water availability, and on agricultural production.
These are not minor issues. Diseases that are sensitive to climate include some of our biggest killers as malaria, diarrhea, and also including risk conditions as it is under nutrition, the single largest contributor to the global burden of disease."

The Director launch the Green PAHO Initiative looking at a comprehensive way to "green" our "working environment" and thus continue our goal of Building Healthy Environments.

"Our work has evolved, from describing the risks of climate change to health, to capacity building with health practitioners, to guidance on how to assess risks and plan protection, to proposing practical guidance on protecting health from specific climate risks."

"...We need a comprehensive Framework for Action to properly address climate change and its impact on health: addressing Evidence, implementing Adaptation mechanisms in the health sector, and providing Leadership..."

"World Health Day, celebrated Apr. 7, is a good opportunity to "call attention to the fact that the survival
of humanity is at stake" because of climate change, according to Mirta Roses, director of the Pan-American
Health Organization."

Government officials and local communities must "take on whatever responsibility that they can in order
to contribute to a more stable environment," reduce the vulnerability of populations in high-risk zones and
in poverty, such as indigenous communities, said the Argentine surgeon, an expert in infectious diseases, in
a telephone interview from Washington DC with Tierramérica.

The adverse health impacts of climate change can be both direct and indirect. Direct effects result from from climatic extremes such as thermal stress and weather disasters. Indirect effects result from climatic influences on vector-borne disease transmission, water- and food-borne disease transmission, and food and water security. Indirect effects also include the consequences of social and economic dislocation, including population displacement. In the Americas, the major areas of concern are increases in extreme weather events, changes in food supply and nutritional security, changes in water supply, changes in vector-borne disease range and distribution, and rising sea levels. Due to rapid urbanization in the Americas, urban health issues will become increasingly important.

Mr. John Scott, Coordinator Subcommittee on Health, American Indian and Alaska Native Climate Change Working Group. Speech:
Health effects of Climate Change on American and Alaskan Native Populations *(Will be available soon)

Dr. Luiz A. Galvão, Area Manager, Sustainable Development and Environmental Health. Speech:
Conclusion, next steps to protect health from climate.

See also: USA National Public Health Week

April 7-13, 2008

CLIMATE CHANGE: Our Health in the Balance

For the last five years PAHO and the American Public Health Association (APHA) have been working on plan
the National Public Health Week from Apr 7-13, along with PAHO commitment to OAS to declare this week the Public
Health Week of the Americas